Bill > HR5528

This bill, the Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2021, requires the Attorney General to make competitive grants to state, tribal, and local governments to establish and maintain witness protection and assistance programs. The grants can be used to support programs that provide protection or assistance to witnesses in court proceedings involving homicides, serious violent felonies, serious drug offenses, or cases involving gangs or organized crime. The bill outlines the criteria the Attorney General will use to evaluate applicants, requires the Attorney General to provide technical assistance to grant recipients, and directs the Attorney General to develop and disseminate best practice models for witness protection and assistance programs. The bill also sets the federal share of program costs at up to 75% and authorizes $30 million per year for fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to carry out the program.